Chapter 28 Good Night, Mr. Shen

Unknowingly, I had already spent a week in Shanghai.

For the first time, I realized that a life without clubbing, wasting time, or indulging in drunken escapades could pass so quickly.

Lin Xi had finally managed to connect with a renowned director named Xu Ran. He was a tall, middle-aged man with an artistic vibe—no bald spot, a chest full of hair, and a penchant for wearing low-cut shirts. To top it off, he always wore a pair of contrasting gold-rimmed glasses.

There was an unmistakable air of... a wolf in sheep's clothing about him.

After reading the simple script I had written and my interpretation of the story, he stared at me for a long time before saying, "This doesn't seem like something a sophomore would write."

I was utterly disheartened.

I thought he was criticizing my poor writing skills, even though I had poured my heart and soul into it.

But then he looked at me meaningfully and said, "Jiang Li, you were born for this. It would be a shame if you didn't pursue this path in the future."

I was stunned!

For so many years, this was the first time I had received professional recognition. Before this, the highest praise I'd ever gotten was about my drinking capacity or my ability to stay up all night.

Under Xu Ran's guidance, we drew inspiration from countless masters in the field of art films, both domestic and international, over the past few years. A framework quickly took shape in our minds, and after several all-nighters, our small team had a rough outline and a basic script.

Meanwhile, Lin Xi worked tirelessly to connect with production teams that might meet our standards and negotiate potential collaborations.

The day before we wrapped up, to express our gratitude, Lin Xi and I insisted on treating Director Xu to dinner. But as soon as we stepped out of the hotel, we saw Shen Jin striding toward us, her assistant bent over, struggling with luggage.

"I've figured it out—you two have terrible character!"

Without giving us a chance to speak, Shen Jin launched into a tirade."You came back from abroad without saying a word and started a business behind my back. What's the deal? Trying to leave the group? Think I'm embarrassing you? If it weren't for my brother telling me you two had come to Shanghai, I'd still be sitting at home, waiting for you to return from Malaysia, Jiang Li!"

Lin Xi and I exchanged looks.

Lin Xi, being quick-witted, responded first."Stop talking nonsense. The only reason you found us so precisely is because Shen Jibai sent you to spy on us, right?"

"Well... that's part of it. But mainly, I wanted to find you two. I don't care—I'm joining this business venture too!"

"Look, if I remember correctly, you majored in business administration. We're starting a film production company."

"So what? I've got connections. Don't you need a marketing department?"

"Well... that's true..."

What was supposed to be a dinner to thank our mentor turned into a gathering of four.

In a panoramic restaurant on the top floor with a stunning view, jazz music played softly, and the guests were elegantly dressed.

Our table was by a floor-to-ceiling window, offering a sweeping view of Shanghai. This city, once the earliest treaty port, bore the remnants of its colonial history—not a source of pride, but undeniably a foundation for its current glitz and glamour.

The dazzling night reflected on the glass, showcasing the city's materialistic splendor in all its overwhelming brilliance.

I silently thanked myself for dressing up before heading out.

I had put on light makeup and a dress, out of respect for Director Xu's academic stature.

Had I shown up in jeans and a hoodie, as I had been wearing for the past ten days, I might have been turned away by the doorman.

It was a relaxed evening. The four of us drank just enough to get a little tipsy. During the meal, the topic of Shen Jibai and Song Yixin came up. Shen Jin mentioned that three years ago, her father had been actively trying to matchmake the two. Apparently, they dated for about a month before breaking up quickly.

Recently, for some unknown reason, Song Yixin had started clinging to him again, relentlessly trying to reconcile.

Given Song Yixin's family background and looks, there must be plenty of people chasing after her. Why would she be so fixated on one person?

Perhaps, after experiencing everything else, she realized Shen Jibai was still the best...

"He's quite the catch, huh?" I asked casually while cutting into a piece of steak that was proving difficult. I already knew the answer but couldn't resist digging for more.

"Of course! Where else can you find a clean-background heir to a trillion-yuan group? High education, great family, no vices—he doesn't gamble, doesn't visit brothels, doesn't have bad habits. And the key? He doesn't even socialize much. He finishes work on time every day and goes straight to the gym. Could you resist?"

Shen Jin's description was detailed, to say the least.

Sigh. It would have been better if she hadn't said anything. Now, my heart, which had just calmed down, was once again in turmoil.

I couldn't deny it—Shen Jibai and I were now people from two completely different worlds. How long could this hormone-driven impulse last?

That's why I needed to seize this chance to turn my life around, even if it meant leveraging this fleeting romance.

I arranged a meeting with Shen Jibai, asking him to set aside an hour on Monday to listen to my script pitch.

"Are you planning to participate in a project tender?" His voice on the phone was steady and businesslike, as always.

"Just listen first and give me some feedback. Who knows? You might think our script is the perfect fit."

I knew that with the current qualifications of the company Lin Xi and I had put together, we didn't meet the criteria for their tender.

Unless I used personal connections.

Otherwise, he wouldn't even glance at us.

"Alright, come in at 9 a.m. on Monday," he agreed without much hesitation.

"Ah! Thank you, Mr. Shen! Good night, Mr. Shen!"

I pretended to be enthusiastic about work as I hung up, but my heart felt empty.

In just over a week, the closeness and intimacy we had shared in Bangkok now felt like a distant memory.

Would he, like Ye Jingzhan, quietly move on to someone like Song Yixin because of a failed first experience?

I didn't dare think further.

Forget it. Overthinking is exhausting—better to go to bed early!

Monday came as scheduled.

The day before, I had organized all the materials and the initial draft of the script, which I had already bound into a booklet. To show sincerity, I even prepared a detailed script analysis PowerPoint presentation.